Hidden Sri Lanka

Private Tour | General interest

16 Days & 14 Nights• From £2,215

Head off the beaten path staying at unique properties whilst exploring tea estates, wildlife parks and relaxing by the palm-fringed south coast. Seek out indigenous local tribes and enjoy walks amidst stunning scenery.

2017 Standard private from £2,215

Standard private tour in brief

Day 1: Fly to Colombo (N)

Day 2: Kegalle

Take the afternoon train to Rambukkana and transfer to the Rosyth Estate House, a colonial planter's bungalow for a 2-night stay. The beautiful estate is set in 25-hectares of private tea and rubber plantations, 1,100ft above sea level. (N)

Day 3: Kegalle

Day at leisure to enjoy the facilities of the Rosyth Estate House. Guests can explore the estate, visit the local tea factory, enjoy a cookery lesson, relax by the pool or simply take in the stunning views. (B)

Day 4: Kandy

Transfer to Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge for 3 nights. (B, L, D)

Days 5-6: Kandy

Explore the delights of Kandy including the Temple of the Tooth dating from the 16th century, Royal Botanical Gardens - the largest in Sri Lanla, local markets and artisan workshops. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Gal Oya National Park

Travel to Gal Oya National Park for 2 nights at the Gal Oya Lodge.
Gal Oya is an area of outstanding beauty with evergreen forests; mountainous grasslands; and one of the Sri Lanka's largest lakes, dotted with small picturesque islands. (B, D)

Day 8: Gal Oya National Park

Take a boat safari on Senanayake Samudraya lake in search of elephants who swim from island to island. Jeep safaris, nature walks and opportunities to meet the indigenous Vedda tribes are also available. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Ella

Travel to Ella for 2 nights at 98 Acres Resort & Spa, which as its name indicates, is set in 98 acres of lush green mountains (B)

Day 10: Ella

Day at leisure to relax and enjoy the resort's facilities or to take part in a range of optional activities. Activities include tea plantation visits, guided hiking, birdwatching and cookery lessons. (B)

Day 11: Uda Walawe National Park

Travel to Uda Walawe National Park for 2 nights at Kalu's Hideway. The National Park covers an area of 30,821 hectares, and includes a large reservoir, the Uda Walawe Tank, which is fed by the Walawe Ganga. The park is home to an estimated 500 elephants. (B)

Day 12: Uda Walawe National Park

Morning safari in the national park. In addition to elephant, deer species such as spotted deer, sambar and barking deer together with langur, water buffalo and jackal can also be found. Exotic birds that may be seen include hawk eagles, black capped bulbuls, kingfishers and peacocks. (B)

Day 13: Thalpe

Visit the Elephant Transit home en route to Thalpe for 3-nights at Apa Villa.
Established by the Born Free Foundation, the Elephant Transit Home rescues orphaned elephants and assists in their rehabilitation back into the wild. (B)

Tour detail

Standard private tour accommodation

98 Acres Resort & Spa, as its name indicates, is set in 98 acres of lush green mountains, located close to the village of Ella in the Sri Lankan central highlands. Designed to blend in with the surrounding nature, the resort consists of charming chalets with an eco-friendly ethos in mind. Nature treks, archery, tea plantation tours and visits to a nearby wildlife sanctuary are some of the activities on offer at the resort.
Features: 12 rooms, swimming pool, gym, games room, free Wi-Fi, restaurant, bar.
Room amenities: Television, minibar, safe, hairdryer, en suite bathroom, tea & coffee...

Apa Villa Thalpe is located 8 km south of historic Galle Fort in southern Sri Lanka; it is often described as stylish, elegant, peaceful, private and a haven. Three distinctive villas offer a total of seven large suites. The mood is leisurely as you ease into swimwear or sarong and enjoy the garden, the stunning infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean and the sandy beach. Although located on a beach the narrow beach is only safe for paddling to knee height. It is not safe for swimming because of an undertow and you must walk 1km to swim in the...

On the edge of Gal Oya National Park and set among 8 hectares of private forests, Gal Oya Lodge is a rustic eco-friendly lodge. It comprises spacious and elegantly furnished bungalows and villas, designed with timber walls and glass-to-ceiling windows and doors to enjoy the spectacular views.
Features: 9 bungalows and villas, restaurant, bar and swimming pool.
Room amenities: En suite bathroom with bath or shower, seating and dining...

Set among 5 acres of wilderness at the edge of the Uda Walawe National Park, Kalu's hideaway is a small eco-friendly hotel with 5 ensuite rooms and 2 chalets. Each of the rooms and chalets is comfortably furnished and tastefully decorated. Facilities include a dining room that serves Sri Lankan curries and international cuisine, an outdoor swimming pool and a bar that serves fresh fruit juices and alcoholic...

Set on a picturesque tea plantation 30km from Kandy and 1,000 metres above sea level, Madulkelle Tea and Eco Lodge offers magnificent views, top class facilities, and plenty of things to see and do. It is just a 15-minute walk to Campbell waterfalls and a 40-minute drive to Knuckles Mountain Range, which is a Unesco world heritage site. Guests can soak up the sun or take a dip at the outdoor pool. The friendly staff can organise a campfire or a visit to the tea factory. Trekking and day trips can also be arranged. All the lodges are made of high-quality tarpaulin canvas specially imported from South Africa.
Facilities: 18 secluded lodges including a honeymoon suite, library with internet access, lounge bar, dining room, restaurant, infinity pool.
Room amenities: Tented lodges sleeping a maximum of 3 with en suite bathroom with shower, sitting area,...

The Rosyth Estate House is set in a 1926 colonial planter's bungalow in a 62 acre private tea and rubber estate 1100ft above sea level. It offers outstanding boutique style accommodation, exceptional Sri Lankan cuisine and the opportunity to experience the beauty and culture of rural Sri Lanka. Guests can explore the estate, visit the local tea factory, enjoy a cookery lesson, relax by the pool or simply take in the stunning views. It is an ideal first or last stop on a tour of Sri Lanka being 2 hours from Colombo and an hour to the south of Kandy.

Tour experts

Standard private tour flights

Upgrades & regional air connections

Regional air connections are available from within the UK. Please contact your travel consultant for current prices from your nearest city.
We can also arrange flights from overseas, simply give us a call to find out more.

Important information

If you choose to take the tour without flights arranged through Cox & Kings, please contact one of our travel consultants prior to booking the flights to ensure that you are aware of the tour timings and all the implications of not booking through us. We strongly advise you not to book flights independently of Cox & Kings if significant charges would apply in case of cancellation.